Summary

Trump has rejected the EU’s “zero-for-zero” tariff offer on cars and industrial goods, demanding instead that the bloc commit to purchasing $350 billion of American energy to offset the trade deficit.

Following his implementation of 20% tariffs on EU goods last week, which triggered significant market downturns, Trump indicated openness to negotiations while emphasizing his “America First” stance.

He also criticized EU product standards as “non-monetary barriers” designed to block American exports.

  • ByteJunk@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    And if the EU needed any further incentive to keep rushing for renewable energy, here it is.

  • Cryan24@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    The EU are currently trying the carrot (offering zero for zero), Next comes the stick (targeted import and export tarrifs)… it would hurt the EU, but cripple the US.

      • Skua@kbin.earth
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        8 days ago

        Coordinate with China on this shit. The EU and China may have their differences, but they have a common goal here and together they substantially outweigh the US

        • Cryan24@lemmy.world
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          8 days ago

          I think there is a possibility for an EU, China, Canada plus others… agreement to smooth over the gap from loss of US trade.

          • TheRealLinga@sh.itjust.works
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            8 days ago

            Maybe we are going to see a unification of the world over this! Everyone rallies together to fight the U.S. tariffs, and then there’s no more U.S.! World peace at last. Thanks Trump!

            • CircaV@lemmy.ca
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              8 days ago

              Yeah!! I hope the rest of the world isolates and ices out the US from global trade. It can be done!!!

      • PlexSheep@infosec.pub
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        8 days ago

        Or choose to ignore us American interlecutal property and start the second golden age of piracy

    • AwkwardBroccolli@lemmy.ml
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      8 days ago

      EU should target the services. US exports services like google, meta etc than goods. If that happens, US goes to depression.

      • Cryan24@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        That one could be trickier as many Europeans work for the US big service companies ( Microsoft, Google etc…)

    • Mothra@mander.xyz
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      8 days ago

      I don’t live anywhere in the northern hemisphere and I can’t say I know much about economy and international affairs. Which targeted tariffs you think the EU will impose that will cripple US?

      • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
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        8 days ago

        Either tariff all big tech companies or just outright ban them from being allowed in the public sector. If you ban amazon, microsoft, google, meta, etc then the US economy will be in shambles. Big techs revenue is like ~10% of the total US GDP.

    • CircaV@lemmy.ca
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      8 days ago

      I personally am loving the non-tarrif retaliation by China on the US. Basically banning exports to the US of critical minerals that only they produce. Love to see it.

    • jaxxed@lemmy.ml
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      8 days ago

      EU tariffs alone would not be that painful on their own, but add in Asian tarrifs and perhaps some South American numbers… maybe bring the penguins in too.

  • Skiluros@sh.itjust.works
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    8 days ago

    Sounds like there won’t be any good faith negotiations with the US.

    This sounds like BS, does the US even have enough capxitt or export $350 billion worth of energy (oil, LNG?).

  • Zier@fedia.io
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    8 days ago

    But he said the tariffs were permanent. This was not a ‘negotiating’ tactic. Oh wait, he fucking lied, like he does every time he breathes. This is the “art of the deal”, AKA the bad deal. What an idiot bully con man. President Felon.

    • Skua@kbin.earth
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      8 days ago

      They basically are permanent if his alternative is the EU buying the entire GDP of Finland in extra LNG every year

    • taladar@sh.itjust.works
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      8 days ago

      What nobody realized is that the “art” in “art of the deal” was one of those modern “monkey threw feces at the wall” type of art pieces.

  • MehBlah@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    Just say no EU. The more he hears the word the more it will drive home how wrong he is. Of course his type is incapable of admitting that they are wrong.

  • gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de
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    8 days ago

    He also criticized EU product standards as “non-monetary barriers” designed to block American exports.

    lol, lmfao even

    product standards exist for a reason.

  • Lit@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    They don’t need $350B of US energy. why not sell something they need instead for forcing your customer to eat “McDonald’s” when they don’t need or want to.

    Might as well force penguins to buy ice cube and snow made in US.

    • gonzo-rand19@moist.catsweat.com
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      8 days ago

      Honestly, pressuring someone into a purchase is how they start to think that maybe your products aren’t worth their perceived value. Otherwise, why the hard sell?

      Art of the deal, my ass. I wonder if he can even feel embarrassment or if he simply hides it behind his “masterful leader” persona.

    • Fisch@discuss.tchncs.de
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      8 days ago

      I’m pretty sure he knows they don’t need it and that that’s the point. He’s probably trying to force to buy stuff they don’t need in addition to the stuff they need, which they’ll buy anyway.

  • Monument@lemmy.sdf.org
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    8 days ago

    Wait, wait, wait.

    Trump, under the direction of parties unknown, is trying to force the EU to buy U.S. energy resources, and that’s the linchpin of his trade war with them?

    Is he trying to give Europe a nudge back to Russian oil supplies?

    • Milk_Sheikh@lemm.ee
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      8 days ago

      If you’re a (western) European leader returning to Russian energy is at best shortsighted amnesia, at worst blatant malfeasance. There’s several reasons to not go back to Russia:

      • Official legal based sanctions on Russian energy
      • Ukrainian drone based ‘sanctions’ on Russian energy
      • Russia’s track record of energy blackmail/hybrid warfare
      • LNG and oil production available in your EEZ/the EU, albeit at higher cost than imported
      • Domestic solar, hydro, and wind manufacturing/generation is ramping up
      • French nuclear energy exports
      • Domestic politics ie. voters turning against Russian imperial aggression/expansionism

      Eastern Europe has a slightly different incentive mix, but there’s still a lot of reasons to not

        • Milk_Sheikh@lemm.ee
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          8 days ago

          Commit to renewables. I’d advocate for a nuclear powered off-ramp from fossils whilst renewable capacity and infrastructure is built, but I get that each nation has its own history with fission.

          Energy security is fundamental for a robust society and economy - otherwise you’re subject to pipeline shutoffs/attacks, oil embargoes/quotas, or another angle for outside nations to influence or control you. For example, if you’re chill with the French and build your economic strategy around buying their surplus energy, that strategy predicated on the French having a surplus to sell you.

      • Wrrzag@lemmy.ml
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        7 days ago

        Most of these are not really a problem though, even less for the kind of psychos that run the EU. Sanctions can be lifted, and Ukraine shouldn’t be able to do much against both Russia and the EU. While renewables and nuclear are increasing, Russian energy could help until they are 100% ready. Voters won’t do much if they are told “see, the US is trying to scam us, and in these trying times we’ve struck a deal with Russia and you’ll be paying less for power and heat”.

        The problem with striking a deal with Russia is that it’s not the most reliable partner right now (your 3rd point), but the people in charge can ignore the rest and have no problems sleeping.

        Edit: this is not a defense of Russia but a critique of the powers that be in the EU.

  • Jimius@discuss.tchncs.de
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    7 days ago

    Wait, isn’t this just extortion? Smashing in a shop’s windows and telling the owner if he wants to put in new ones he needs to pay the guy with the bat first.

  • fluxion@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    Ues, becoming energy dependent on this belligerent administration sounds like a great idea